EVACUEES from Kauswagan town, Lanao del Norte province, ride a motorbike in Iligan City as they flee villages occupied by Muslim rebels early Monday. President Arroyo is calling on Muslim rebels to immediately withdraw from several southern townships they have raided, warning the military will crush them if they refuse. --AP

Bizmen: Is government in control?

DAVAO CITY—The biggest association of business chambers in Mindanao has sought government assurance that it remained in control, this after the fresh outbreak of violence in some parts of Central Mindanao.

Saying such an assurance would have a positive impact on the stability of doing business in the island, Mindanao Business Council chairman Vicente Lao said, “The business sector does not really know the actual situation in the fields, and we cannot predict what the two sides will do.”

Migs slams MILF bullying

ADMINISTRATION Sen. Miguel Zubiri deplored the recent attacks perpetrated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in several provinces in Mindanao, saying it showed the “insincerity towards peace” of the secessionist rebels.

“Once again, they are trying to bully the law-abiding citizens in Mindanao and the government itself with their terrorist actions in exchange for real estate,” Zubiri said in a text message to the BusinessMirror.

Chinese execs crack down on ‘pirates,’ protect sponsors

BEIJING—Authorities here are on their toes on pirated videos of the 29th Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies that were held at the spectacular National Stadium or the Bird’s Nest on August 8.

Already, copyright watchdogs have discovered more than 1,600 pirated materials of the ceremonies not only in China but also abroad. More than a hundred of those were discovered in China, state officials told the China Daily.

Durano assures Boracay folk

“PRIOR vested rights by stakeholders in Boracay Island will be respected.”

This was the statement made by Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, on recent protests by resort owners against the proposed legislation aimed at declaring certain portions of the island—famous for its long stretch of white-sand beaches—public and disposable land.

P1.7-B investments in housing eyed

THE government may invest up to P1.7 billion in special housing services for the urban poor outside Metro Manila, reported the National Antipoverty Commission (NAPC).

Secretary Domingo Panganiban, chief of the NAPC, said the program will be carried out through one of the government’s primary financial institutions.

GMA streamlines tasks of regional Cabinet officers

PRESIDENT Arroyo has rationalized the functions, duties and responsibilities of her Cabinet Officers for Regional Development (CORD) to make them more effective in helping the Executive resolve critical issues in the regions.

Administrative Order 234, dated August 4, 2008, streamlines and improves the guidelines for the CORD system, which was initiated during the Ramos administration, scrapped by then President Joseph Estrada and revived by President Arroyo in 2002 to institutionalize the regional consultation process.

MTG-trained girls bag silver, bronze in math Olympiad

FILIPINO “Olympians” bagged three medals in China on Monday, but not at the Games in Beijing.

A six-person Philippine team that competed in the All-Female International Math Olympiad (otherwise referred to as the China Girls Math Oympiad), in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, flew home last night with a silver and two bronzes, after surviving one of the toughest and most prestigious global math contests.

Longer LRT hours as riders swell

THE Light Rail Transport Authority (LRTA) on Monday announced it is extending operation hours of Lines 1 and 2 by 30 minutes to 11 p.m. starting today.

LRTA administrator Melquiades Robles said at a press briefing that an estimated 20,000 passengers more could be accommodated by Line 1 (Monumento to Baclaran) and 3,000 more by Line 2 (Santolan to Recto). Both lines start as early as 5 a.m.

FILIPINO math wizards show the medals they won at the 7th All-female Math Olympaid in Zhongshan, China. From left, Stephanie Anne Oliveros, bronze; Geraldine Baniqued, silver; and Angeline Baniqued, bronze. The six-person Philippine team was among 182 participants from five countries who underwent two grueling competition days. --RECTO MERCENE